The Leonard has received its off-season polish, and the old amber cane gleams with a light that belies its nearly seventy years. My smile comes from recollections of special moments with that vintage Catskill classic.
Eight months ago, I began my annual dry fly odyssey with that rod in hand and a freshly tied Gordon’s Quill resting in the hook keeper. How perfect that the historic Catskill combination produced two fine brown trout to usher in a long and beautiful dry fly season.
Throughout the 2022 season, I had been on the losing end of a continuing battle of wits with a very special fish. Hooked and lost twice when he broke my tippet and a third time when the hook unexpectedly pulled out, the most embarrassing episode of the duel came when my autumn fly sailed free of the flawed tippet on my cast, only to alight and drift untethered to be taken by my foe.
On a rainy September afternoon, we dueled once more, and the Leonard proved my successful foil! Heavily muscled and barely shy of two feet long, that brownie fought the old man and his old rod with all his cunning and might.
Rubbing the beeswax and lemon oil concoction along the shaft with my fingers, I could feel both the history and electricity of a truly venerable rod.
Once more, a vintage St. George will take it’s place in the locking reel seat come April, as we embark upon another glorious season. Indeed, one of Father Theodore’s famous namesakes will once more occupy the hook keeper. The pairing brought me luck this year!
I raise my cup and wish you all the best for a very Merry Christmas!
Bright Waters Catskill 